Newsletter of The Tarot School
http://TarotSchool.com
ISSN: 1529-0565 
Vol. 5 #7 / August 1, 2013

                                                                  
 In this Issue:
- Welcome
- Tarot Tip: Details, Details -- What Are You Missing?
- What's Gnu?
- Tarot Card Showcase: 2 of Wands
- Best Practices: Using Policies or Contracts with Clients 
- Featured Tarot Blog: Twelve of Hearts Divination Blog
- Upcoming Events

Welcome to a new issue of Tarot Tips!
And a special welcome to our new readers.
 
Big things can come in small packages, and you often 
reap big rewards if you pay attention to the fine details. 
This especially applies to the images on tarot cards 
where the tiniest details could have a major impact on 
your interpretations and readings.
 
Just like the figure in the Two of Wands, this month's
Showcase Card, focuses on the details of the globe held 
in his hands, we are going to call attention to details in 
some of the cards that are easily missed.
 
The Best Practices column will look at details of contract
and business policies for tarot entrepreneurs, and we'll
give you another great blog to explore.
 

And one more thing...
 
 If you use Gmail (and even if you don't), you've no doubt
been deluged with messages about their new tab system which
automatically segregates your incoming emails into Priority,
Promotions, Updates and more.
 
Most newsletters, including Tarot Tips, will wind up in
Promotions. If we're a priority for you, simply drag this
issue onto the Priority tab. A yellow box will appear,
asking if you'd like to do that with all emails from The
Tarot School. Simply click YES and you'll be good to go!
 
And thank you -- really!
 
Yours truly on the tarot path,
Ruth Ann, Wald & Gina


Tarot Tips is here to help you with the practical side
of your Tarot journey. In order to take the greatest
advantage of this newsletter, please send us your
questions regarding any aspect of your tarot study
or practice and we'll do our best to answer them
in an upcoming issue.

Spread the experience of tarot - share this newsletter
with other Tarot Enthusiasts!


 
Tarot Tip
DETAILS, DETAILS -- WHAT ARE YOU MISSING?
 
There is plenty to look at when reviewing individual cards.
In the RWS deck, the tiny details can be equally as
important as some of the main figures in the cards. Some
details, of course, are just art, but there are many that
are references to the esoteric meanings or implications of
the card itself.
 
What do we mean by tiny details? In this instance we are
talking about small images or symbols found in the RWS 
deck that may not be readily seen with a quick or casual 
glance at the card. Careful observation often yields an 
important detail that may have a profound impact on the 
reading, allowing new possibilities in interpretation and
problem-solving as an advisor.
 
Let's look at a few of these informative treasures found
on some of the cards in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck.
 
Mountains/Mounds/Hills:
These often represent the space where heaven and earth meet
and are ancient symbols of deity. Mountains suggest the goal
of spiritual transformation and quests to reach the place
where gods reside. They suggest that the path to transcendence 
may not be smooth and is often challenging.
 
Valleys:
The flattened spaces in between mountains called valleys are
intentional contrasts to the peaks. You may find puddles of
water forming in these areas that ribbon their way through
the valleys. These are metaphors for the low points in life,
or going to places that are necessary as a background and
preparation for transcendent experience.
 
Puddles/Ponds/Lakes:
Water can be a symbol of the unconscious and is often
associated with feminine energy. Lakes and ponds in the
cards are like mirrors that reflect the light above, and
also like openings to the darkness beneath the surface. They
seem quiet and calm but carry an air of mystery. Lakes are
sometimes linked to mythical creatures, and may form a link
between imagination and reality.
 
Bell:
If you look closely at the figure on the left of the Five of
Pentacles, you'll find a tiny bell around the figure's
neck. In medieval times, lepers were required to carry or
wear bells to warn of their presence. Interestingly, the
bell is also a symbol associated with the voice of intuition, 
awakening both the senses and the spirit. Bells are 
expressions of happiness but also of warning or protection.
 
Bandage:
Usually wrapped around the head, bandages suggest wounds or
injuries in the process of healing. A bandage may suggest
psychological wounding or hardships, and can also indicate
emotional hurt and vulnerability.
 
Boat:
The boat had long been known as a symbol of transition and
metaphorical journeys through life. Boats carry people and
cargo, suggesting the experiences and things we carry on our
life's journey.
 
Snail:
This unhurried creature featured on the Nine of Pentacles is
a creature with great survival skills, preferring to hide in
shaded or dark areas. The snail is self-sufficient, able to
survive alone, finding lush green plants or decaying
vegetation for nourishment. Its shell offers protection to
its soft body that is susceptible to harsh environments and
natural predators. The snail can the capacity to move
steadily forward toward a goal even when the going is slow.
It also suggests uncomfortable feelings.
 
Rabbit:
A common reference to pregnancy and procreation, rabbits are
linked to abundance and rapid increase. The rabbit is found
in the landscape of the Queen of Pentacles. The rabbit has
also been associated with the moon and the goddess,
Aphrodite.  It is also a symbol of good luck.
 
 
Resource:
Want to know more about the details and symbolism  in the
cards? Check out The Secret Language of Tarot.
 
  
 

 
 
#1: NEW STUDY GUIDE!
What Should I Ask?
Any good tarot reading starts with a 
good question. But sometimes it's 
not so easy to think of one. Or maybe 
we (or our clients) get stuck in a rut of 
asking the same questions again and again. 
What Should I Ask? can help break those 
boring patterns! Get your copy here:
 

#2: COMING SOON...
Tarot Coupling: Resources & Resolutions 
for Relationship Readings by Gina G. Thies
 
Can the Tarot help you choose better partners? What does each card have to say about the current stage of your relationship? Now you can confront the dilemmas found in relationships and bridge Tarot meanings with perspectives in psychology. Gina's new book will be published in November, but you can pre-order your copy now at http://amzn.to/16Fug4O 
 


Tarot Card Showcase

In this section we will feature tidbits on a specific tarot card. 
While there are many systems and decks to choose from in 
the world of tarot, here we use the Universal Waite Tarot 
images and symbols.
Copyright 1992 U.S Games.
 

 
2 OF WANDS
 
Astrological Attribution: Mars in Aries
Qabalistic Attribution: Chochma in Atziluth
(Wisdom in the World of Emanation)
Esoteric Title: Lord of Dominion
 
A noble figure stands looking out over his
domain as he holds a globe in the palm of
one hand, and a wand in the other. 
 
The person on the card has worlds of 
resources at his disposal and must decide 
what to do with them. The globe in his hand 
could serve as a reminder that he should 
pay attention to detail as well as to the big picture.
 
This card suggests power, control, mastery and superiority. It shows comfort 
with power and command, on both a large and a small scale.
 
In a reading, this card indicates the inner power that brings success, 
although you may not know what to do with the success. There could be 
a merging of two or more individuals in a partnership.
 
 
Positive Keywords: Energy, success, command, dominion and prosperity.
 
Negative Keywords:  Confusion, uncertainty, weakness and disruption.
 
Notable Quotation: "You will never have a greater or lesser dominion 
than that over yourself...the height of a man's success is gauged by his 
self-mastery." ~ Leonardo da Vinci
 
        
 

 Birth Card Research Project   

BIRTH CARD RESEARCH PROJECT!

One of the questions we get asked most frequently is, 
"When are you going to write a Birth Card course?"  
The answer is, "We're working on it!" 
But we could use your help...

There are plenty of things we can say about each Birth Card set, 
but we can only truly experience our own. We'd love to know 
how you experience being a [fill in your Birth Cards here].

You can be part of the creative process by answering 
these simple questions:
  • How is [Birth Card #1] strong / weak in me?
  • How is [Birth Card #2] strong / weak in me?
  • * And for you Sun-Wheel-Magicians, add the third card.

    Keeping in mind that there are many ways to experience 
    Birth Cards, here are a couple of examples of the type of 
    response we're looking for:

    WHEEL / MAGICIAN

  • The Wheel is strong in me when I am feeling that things are 
  • going well and good things are coming to me. The Wheel is 
    weak in me when I feel the necessity to force an issue and 
    don't trust things will turn out well.
     
  • The Magician is strong in me when I spontaneously create 
  • something new. The Magician is weak in me when I feel 
    uninspired and want to withdraw.

    MOON / HERMIT

  • The Moon is strong in me when I am connected to the divine 
  • power within me. The Moon is weak in me when I'm depressed.

  • The Hermit is strong in me when I have a sense of perspective 
  • and drive. The Hermit is weak in me when I give up too easily.

     
    How To Participate:
     
    1) If you don't know your Birth Cards, you can use our handy 

    2) Contemplate the questions and see what comes up for you.

    3) Send us an email with your answers to tarot@tarotschool.com
        Write "Birth Card Research" in the subject line.

    Thank you!!

    With love and respect,
    Ruth Ann & Wald


     
    Best Practices for Professional Readers
    USING POLICIES OR CONTRACTS WITH CLIENTS
     
    By Gina Thies
     
     
    Have you had a client book time with you and not show up for
    their appointment? What about getting booked for an event
    and blocking out your whole day only to have the organizer
    or hostess cancel? Are you thinking about hiring an
    assistant or expanding your business with other employees?
     
    These situations are all great reasons to determine whether
    or not you should develop a policy or use contracts for your
    operation. Both contract and policies set guidelines and
    expectations in doing business as well as helping you to get
    organized and avoid conflicts.
     
    In terms of policies, you do not need to have a rule for
    every single detail, but I would say that you may need
    something in writing, especially if you find yourself
    dealing with cancellations.
     
    As the saying goes, the devil is in the details, so you may
    want to review your business needs in order to determine
    whether developing a policy is feasible for you.
     
    The same goes for developing contracts. If you are presented
    with a contract for things such as corporate events or
    parties, pay attention to the details, especially in areas
    of payment, deposits or cancellations.
     
    Here are some others areas to consider when developing the
    details of your policy or contracts:
     
    - Turnaround times - Due dates
    - Deposits/Upfront Costs
    - Cancellation Fees
    - Refunds
    - Tax Responsibility
    - Copyrights of images, videos and other media
    - Client Responsibility and Privacy Policies
     
    When you and your client agree in advance what each of you
    will give, and what each will receive in return, many
    difficulties and problems are prevented before they can
    happen.
     
    Resource:
    Although created for a different context (massage), 
    you may find the Policies and Procedures outlined on
    this page as a good starting point for creating your own:
     
     
     
    Questions arise when developing or transitioning
    to professional Tarot Reading status to earn
    income. These can range from "How can I make
    money with Tarot?" and "How do I get started?"
    to more complex technical and business questions.
    You may already be up and running and have
    questions about how to enhance or ramp up your
    business. We would love to hear from you. Send any
    questions, or interest in a future class on the
    Business of Tarot, to tarot@tarotschool.com.
     
     
     


    Featured Tarot Blog
    TWELVE OF HEARTS DIVINATION BLOG

    Blogger Kristen's personal collection of posts, lessons,
    readings, and insights on reading playing cards, tarot, and
    other divination tools. If you are looking to add a
    different mix to tarot, this blog can help you can learn how
    to use playing cards for divination.
     
     

     
     Upcoming Events:
     
     
  • August 17-18, 2013
  • San Francisco Bay Area Tarot Symposium (SF BATS)
    DoubleTree Hotel
    San Jose, California
     
    Established by Thalassa in 1991, SF BATS is the
    oldest continuously produced Tarot event in the
    world. This beloved gathering of Tarot enthusiasts
    has showcased some of the best and brightest
    readers, authors, artists and teachers in the field.
     
     
     
  • August 25, 2013
  • Readers Studio Teleconference -- Free!
     
    Come hang out with us on the phone
    at our monthly informal get-together.
    It's a great chance to catch up with each
    other and brainstorm new ideas.
     
     
     
     
     
       
     
     

     

     
     
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    Do you have a question or comment on anything tarot?
    Suggestions for future topics?
    Contact tarot@tarotschool.com
     
    For information on tarot classes, courses,
    events and more, go to http://www.TarotSchool.com

     
    © Copyright 2013 The Tarot School - All Rights Reserved
    Directors: Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone